Fur flies as animal advocates debate future of Brockton MSPCA shelter

Members of some local animal rescue groups say they’re being closed out of the process, and are now forming another nonprofit of their own.

Maria Papadopoulos

The manager of the MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center says she is among a group forming a nonprofit to try and take over the Brockton shelter after it closes later this year.

But members of some local animal rescue groups say they’re being closed out of the process, and are now forming another nonprofit of their own.

“We have a different idea of how the facility should be used and we’re not being allowed to actually participate in how the new organization is going to operate,” said Marcia Motta, founder of the Brockton Cat Coalition.

Motta and others say they want the new shelter to be primarily “no-kill,” meaning animals would not be euthanized unless they are very sick. She said spay and neuter programs would instead reduce pet overpopulation.

The MSPCA shelter currently euthanizes animals it cannot place into homes.

“Obviously no one wants to euthanize any animal, but people need a place to bring their pets when they have nowhere else to go,” Kim Heise, manager of the MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center in Brockton, said Wednesday.

Heise said she is among a group forming a nonprofit that would take over the MSPCA shelter once it closes on Sept. 30. The MSPCA blamed its closing on harsh economic conditions and dwindling investments.

Heise said the new nonprofit would operate as an “open admission” shelter, similar to how the MSPCA shelter is currently run. But the MSPCA would not be financially tied to the new entity.

Heise declined to provide more details on the nonprofit group forming, saying the group is in the planning stages of filing paperwork.

“It would certainly not be on a wide-scale basis, because it’s not having the MSPCA behind you,” Heise said. “We certainly want to help as many people and animals as we can.”

Meetings were held as early as February among local animal advocates to discuss plans for the new shelter that would occupy the MSPCA building at 1300 West Elm St. Extension.

Jeni Mather, founder of the Brockton Blue Dog Shelter, said she organized the first meeting to bring together local animal advocates on Feb. 23.

“It was going forward, how we could work together to fill the void once the shelter closes,” Mather said.

But now, “I feel that it’s a closed discussion,” Mather said of plans for the new nonprofit being proposed by Heise. “I’m feeling left in the dark.”

Heise said nothing was done intentionally to omit people from the group.

“I was doing the best to keep everybody informed ... I don’t know why they’re feeling in the dark. I don’t know, and I’m sorry that they are,” Heise said.

Barbara Finney, president of the Hilltop Humane Society in Randolph, said she had hoped to be a part of the new Brockton nonprofit that would operate an adoption center with a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. But she has changed her mind, she said, since the new shelter would not be no-kill.

“We’re not going to work with people killing animals,” Finney said. “It would have to completely change for us to get involved in it.”

Motta said she is in the process of forming a nonprofit entity called the Bay State Animal Cooperative, which would operate a no-kill shelter and low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Brockton.

“We’re looking for a location, for volunteers, for renovations on the location, donations, any suggestions, ideas, opinions,” Motta said. “People who are willing to help out in any aspect.”

“It’s sad that we can’t get this to happen in the best facility in the city to do it,” Motta added of making the MSPCA location a no-kill shelter.

“We’re not trying to compete with anybody,” Heise said. “The community needs resources that they can turn to for help. The more that are out there, the more people we can help, and the more animals we can help.”

Meanwhile, the MSPCA shelter is now working at reduced staffing levels and is open fewer hours as it prepares to close.

Three staffers were laid off on March 31, leaving six staffers to care for animals as intake grows at the shelter, Heise said.

The shelter is now closed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Maria Papadopoulos can be reached at mpapadopoulos@enterprisenews.com.

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